Coupling for pumping fire engines



,1931- F. J. HARRIS 1,827,579

COUPLING FOR PUMPING FIRE ENGINES Filed Feb; 28, 1950 Patented Oct. 13,1931 PATENT OFFICE.-

FRANGIS'J'. HARRIS, OF JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA COUPLING FOR PUMPING FIREENGINES .Application filedlfebruary 28, 1930. Serial No. 432,1 31.

The present invention consists of a coupling' for pumping fireenginesand has foran' object the provision of "coupling means through themedium of which a fire engine and. fire hydrant may be placed incommunication while the engine is in close proximity to the curb,thereby eleminatingthe necessity of parking the engine several feet fromthe curb, usually in the middle of the highway or thoroughfare, toaccommodate the suction hose, the overall length of which latteriscustomarily in excess of eleven (11) feet. i

' Another object of the invention is to increas'eQthe: pumpingefiiciency of the engine by providing a. coupling which permits c011-nection of the suction hose with the fire hya dra-nt while the engine isin closeproximity to the latter, but so disposed with respect theretothat ample space is provided for the accommodation of the suction hose;the posi tion of the suction connection of the engine drant beingimmaterial.

with respect to the water outlet of the hy' V Afurther object of theinvention is to provide a coupling which permits connection of thehydrant and engine while at'close range and in addition, permitsdraughting of water from rivers, creeks, streams or the like, at

great depth and in afacile and expeditious manner. V

f still further object of the'invention is to provide a coupling whichpermits the suction hose to be connected with either side ofa waterhydrant, immaterial of the direction in which the pumping engine istraveling, the coupling being so formed that the suction hose isretained in substantially parallel relation to the engine so that thelatter may be parked in close proximity to the hydrant.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription of the present preferred form of the device, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a top planview of a coupling, constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, illustrating the application of the same;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the coupling per se, a portion thereof beingbroken away to disclose the manner of engaging the swivel nut of thecoupling; and,

Fig. 3 is'a cross-sectional view,'taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings, in order to illustrate the application of thisinvention a portion of a pumping fire engine is shown, as indicated at4, and embodies the usual suction hose connection 5, extending from afire engine. I have additionally shown in Fig. l a conventional form offire hydrant 6, to which is attached one end of. a suction hose 7, thelatter. being also standard or conventional. v The coupling per seincludes a tubular element which in the present instance, is shown to bean inflexible pipe 8, preferably circular. in cross-section and bentadjacent one end to provide a bend or curvature in the pipe in excess ofsixty degrees Preferably the pipe isv bent at an angle of approximatelyeighty degrees as illustrated to advantage inFig. 1 of thedrawing, so asto project the outer end thereof beyond the side of the fire engine, butin substantially parallel relation to the latter in the direction of thefire hydrant. One end of the pipe 8 is pro-. vided with internalscrew-threads 9, while the opposite end is provided with externalscrew-threads j 10. The internal screwthreads 9 are adapted forengagement with complemental threads formed on the outer periphery of abushing 11, the outer end of which latter is provided with an annularflange 12. The portion of the outer periphcry of the bushing 11, betweenthe threads 9 andthe flange 12,v is smooth. as indicated at 13, for apurpose more fully hereinafter set forth. In order to facilitateengagement and disengagement of the bushing with and from the pipe 8, itis preferableto equip the bushing with. lugs 14. 'whichare formed in thebore oft-he bushing at the outer end of the latter. A wrench isengageable with the lugs in a manifest manner, to turn the bush- Inorder to connect the pipe, 8 to the suction connection 5 of the pumpingengine, a nut 15 is provided which has one end formed to provideail-internal annulus 16, the latter being adapted to engage the smoothportion 13 of the bushing 11. Upon'reference to Fig.2 of the drawings,it Will be noted that the annulus 16 is housed between the flange 12 ofthe bushing 11 and the terminal of the pipe 8. Consequently the pipe 8is free torotate inthe nut 15,.thereby providing a swivel connectionsothat thefpipe 8 1nay be freely rotated for a purpose more fullyhereinafter set forth. A portion ofthe bore f of the nut 15 is smooth,adapted-for impinge-- nut ment With'the outer periphery of thebush ingflange 12. Theremainingportionof the ,bore'of the nut is threaded, asindicated at 17, adapted for engagement" with the threads of thesuctionconnection. 5. of. the engine.v Handles 18 radiate from. theouter periphery of the. nut; to. facilitate engagement of the I with, ondisengagement ofthe nut from the connection 5. f T The standardsuctionhose commonly inuse on: piunpingfire-engines: at the present time.

' has an overall length, including the hose with terminal 'swiyel nutsin excess; of eleven 11.)

test;- j'llhis length of hose: hasheen found "necessaryto provide a.cushion. for the protectionof the. pumping meclianism,;but it hasprovena'wkwand, especially inacities, inthat,

it necessitates the positioning of the: engine about ten; (10) feet or:eleven (11 )v feet, from theeurh, withfthewesult. that the street "or.thonoughfareis. blocked, .gneatly. hamp ring,

in many, instances, fighting, ofthefirefandl re-.

' tardingrescue Work',.since it isimpossihle to.

" getambulances "on other, conveyanoesl-to a. point. in. proximity tothe. conflagratlon With the device: of the present invention,,thecushioning ,efl'ect isfstilllretained, ..1n;.that one end of. thesuction; hose 7 .i's; connected. to one.

side of, the Watenhydrant while th Opposite end of the hose: is. engagedWiththe external screw-threads lQiofi-fthepi'pef8: 'Theangnlare ity ofthe. pipe: 8.. however,. i'ssuch. ;tha=t the suction. hose. extendsalong the I side: of the I fire, engine at substantially right angles to5 r the: latter, therebyQperm-itting the engine: to

be; drawn up. close. to. the. (web; '.The tubular element. on pipe. '8.-is. swiveled",; sothafl the hosemay be connected; from either the frontt on back of the engine, it, being immaterial iirom. which. direction;the engine approaches the water hydrant; 7 Furthermore-,. as. is ap;

the coupling of the present inventionmay, in

view of its compact construction, be left attaken with respect to thesuction connect-ion of the engine. I

"I'tis, of course jt o be" understood that various changesmay be made inthis device, ;.especially'in the details ofeonstructio'n; as come Withinthescope oiilthe appended claims: .What is claimedfisc+j '1 j j... n1.1.A cou nn for placingapumping fire engine and a fire hydrantvcommunication at nose. range,.ihcluding' a" flexible; non-col: lapsinghose fnr attachment. atone endlyvith a hydrant, .a relatively rigidcouplingimem ber detachably engaged. at oneendyvithlthe other end ofthe'hosefandhaving a:swivel connection "atits" other end. with. the.engine, said rigid coupling: member being bent intermediate i t-s endsat an angle less than a right angle. to T'provide for disposing. theflexible hose insubstantial p when: in'coupling, relation,

using a, lengthfofilexiblenonfcollapsing hose, comprising arigidilength' ofpipe be i g i te'eg mediate its ends athanangle lessthan airighti angle and having a' coupling. part. atone. end

for detachable. engagement. with. one endof the hose," andhaving'ijaswivel connection: at

its other end. for detachable engagement with the. suction conne lin..lof theihiieengine', whereby? the. fire f 'engineinay be".eoupledlto the. hydrant I with the engine. disposed .slihhose.disposed! substantially in; a straight. lineparallelto.thefirefiengineiI. I'

" HARRIS...

Parent from. the. illfustration,inhig l. ofthe drawings,.twlo. nginesmaybeIdraWn u -into vcloseproximityto-thefire hydnantand placed in;communication therewith, through the medium. of the present invention.)fAddltlQI1-=' fconnect.,.a.third engine Withtheihydrant, the

- suction 1 hose-may be." connected to g'theliother outlet ofthe'hydrant and directly engagedlto the, third engine;Manifestlyyenylittletiine i c er e ien i h p e ne n i emm i eti wit hi ao eene lteae ee et eeth zen in e the-hyd an ally, ,in unusual; cases,should it. bedesiredto rallelismiteythe engine. .52;. An adapter for usei'n' acoupliiig bet-Wan pumping l fire, engine anda. fire-hydrant Westantially par'allelto and closely adjacent the: 1

curb andfire hydrant and with. theqflexihle V

